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Quek leaves as head of Leeds School of Architecture

Raymond Quek has left his job as head of the Leeds School of Architecture at Leeds Beckett University after only a year, the AJ has learned

The school has recently experienced a rapid turnover of heads, with previous incumbents Teresa Stoppani and Andrew Wilson both departing within the last three years.

It is understood that an amicable agreement was reached and Quek will relocate to spend more time with family.

He was appointed last February to lead the design school in the Yorkshire city following a stint at the helm of the Leicester School of Architecture at DeMontfort University.

Quek said upon joining Leeds Beckett: ‘I am absolutely delighted to be here. This is a school with a long history and reputation for excellence and we will continue to be a strong and leading school internationally.’

He was previously head of architecture at the Abedian School of Architecture at Bond University on the Gold Coast in Australia and has also worked in education roles in Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Singapore and New Zealand.

Leeds School of Art, Architecture and Design dean Lisa Stansbie said: ‘Professor Quek made the decision to leave Leeds Beckett University for family reasons and we have supported him fully in that. We would like to thank him for this work during his time at the university and wish him all the very best for the future.’

Sarah Mills – co-founder of Leeds-based Group Ginger Architects, and postgraduate course director in architecture – has been named as acting head of architecture at the school.

Comment

Teresa Stoppani, former head of Leeds School of Architecture and professor of research in architecture at London South Bank University

I joined Leeds Beckett University (then Leeds Metropolitan) in February 2013, as Head of the Leeds School of Architecture for an agreed period of three years and with a remit to enhance the profile of the school and grow the research activity within the subject area.

This was a challenging and enormously rewarding job, and the school enjoyed a true renaissance, thanks to the hard work of management, staff, and our amazing students.

My tenure in this post came to an end in February 2016, as planned, and I remained at the Leeds Beckett School of Art Architecture and Design as Professor of Architecture, coordinating Research in Architecture, directing the PhD Programme in Architecture which I had established at the school, and continuing to teach and supervise.

I then moved from Leeds Beckett in March 2017 to take on the role of Professor of Research in Architecture at London South Bank University, attracted by the Research remit and emphasis of the role.

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